Friday, May 20 2005 17:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: A Major was among four Army personnel killed and four others injured in a militant attack in Rajouri district today (May 20, 2005), police sources said Jammu.

An Army patrolling party of 14 Maratha Light Infantry was on its way for an operation in Dharamshal area of Rajouri district this afternoon on specific information about the presence of militants in the area, the sources said.

Militants had set-up ambushes at Bandri area in Kalarara forests in the belt in the district and as the troops led by Major Satayjet Shinday reached the place, troops hurled grenades and opened indiscriminate firing on them around 13:00 hours (IST), they said.

Troops took positions and fired back, they said adding in the subsequent fire-fight four Army personnel were killed and four others injured, they said.

The dead included Major Shinday, the leader of the operation party, they said adding bodies and injured were ferried in a helicopter to military hospital in Rajouri.

The condition of two injured jawans is reported to be serious, they said.

Brigadier General Staff (BGS) 16 corps, Brig Dhruv Katoch told PTI that additional troops have been sent to the area and a fierce gunbattle has been going on.